There’s good reason why the CBn forums have a “tabloid trash bin” thread. We see tons of these casting rumors all the time and almost all of them are nothing more than trash. The latest one comes from The Daily Mail and links Ralph Fiennes to Bond 23. Yeah, Lord Voldemort himself. Could it happen? Maybe? Javier Bardem has already been approached by Eon Productions to play a villain so already this sounds suspect. If true it would mean Bond 23 possibly has more than one villain. Not unheard of. From Russia with Love, Thunderball, and The World Is Not Enough all had multiple main villains. Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace questionably do too as do a number of others. It could be the same villain with just multiple prospects for the job, though the report says ‘no’ to that. This role is described as “darkly complex” – sort of similar to what Bardem was saying.

So why Ralph Fiennes? The sources says:

“the part is one of extreme complexity and only an actor of great ability and dexterity can take it on — and Ralph’s name is top of our list.“

Sounds suspect.

“I’m told a couple of other major names are being courted for roles in the picture.”

For a Bond movie? You don’t say!

At one point Kevin Spacey was spoken to about doing Bond 23, but he was already gearing up to play Richard III, which Mendes is directing at the Old Vic from June 18.

Wait, what? Now, Kevin Spacey. If that doesn’t reek of tabloid trash. Was Fiennes really at the top of the list? And, wait a minute, how does him playing Richard III in 2011 make him ineligible for a movie that doesn’t really start shooting till 2012. Mendes is even directing this so it’s not like there’s a conflict there…. Whatever.

Bond 23 will be released on 9 November 2012. The film will be directed by Sam Mendes from a script written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. So far Daniel Craig and Judi Dench are the only actors known to be cast.